Winning a third Magic Millions feature while making plans to welcome back a $1 million earner have emerged as New Year priorities for young trainer David Pfieffer.
Pfieffer, who has made next month’s Gold Coast Magic Millions carnival a stable focus, has lightly-raced three-year-old Safusa in the running for a place in the Guineas field.
Safusa will be out to earn a Gold Coast start when he lines up in the Magic Millions Wyong 3YO Stakes on Thursday.
“He pretty much has to run a good race to warrant a trip to the Gold Coast but I think he’s a progressive horse,” Pfieffer said.
Pfieffer won the Guineas with Graceful Anna when it was known as the Trophy in 2010 and he revealed the six-time winner who has banked $1,023,050 is being prepared for a comeback to racing.
“Once the Gold Coast carnival is over, I’m hoping to bring Graceful Anna back into work,” Pfieffer said.
Retirement loomed large for Graceful Anna on the back of three unplaced runs during the Sydney spring carnival.
Plans to sell her as a broodmare fell through and the discovery of a lower lung infection convinced Pfieffer Graceful Anna deserved another chance in the autumn.
“There was a lot of head scratching in the spring,” Pfieffer said.
“She didn’t show any signs of not being right. She looked the part and her blood counts were always good.
“I’ll bring her back into the stable in mid-January.
“If she shows in her trials that she’s not right she won’t be back at the races.”
Graceful Anna gave Pfieffer the kick-start every young trainer needs when she defeated Tallow and Love Conquers All in the $1 million Trophy.
Pfieffer returned earlier this year to train Gai’s Choice to win the Magic Millions Fillies and Mares Quality.
“With Graceful Anna also winning the Silk Stocking at the Gold Coast I’ve got a 100 per cent strike-rate at the track,” Pfieffer said.
“Having horses who are competitive at a carnival like Magic Millions is important for a small stable like mine and hopefully Safusa can measure up.
“When he won at Canterbury (last time) I thought he was pretty dominant and (third placegetter) Flying Zero came out and won by four lengths at his next start so the form looks good for Wyong.”
AAP TURF
